11 Best Storyboarding Software [For All Budgets]

Storyboarding is an essential part of the creative process for filmmakers, animators, and video creators. Whether you’re an experienced director or a beginner looking to bring your ideas to life, having the right storyboarding software can make a huge difference. In this article, we’ll explore the 11 best storyboarding tools available for all budgets, from free tools to professional-grade software.

We’ll also include a free storyboard AI generator link to help beginners create storyboards quickly and easily. Let’s dive into the top options available today!

1. Storyboard AI Generator Free (Free)

Best for: Beginners and non-artists
Price: Free
Platforms: Web-based

If you’re looking for a free storyboard AI generator, this tool can help you create simple, automated storyboards in minutes. Powered by AI, it can automatically generate scenes based on your script, making it perfect for beginners or anyone looking to quickly visualize their ideas without the need for artistic skills.

I tried this AI tool for a personal project, and I was amazed at how quickly it produced usable storyboards from my basic script. While the designs aren’t as polished as manual work, it’s a fantastic starting point.

You can explore this tool at story-boards.ai to get started.

Pros:

  • Free and easy to use
  • AI-powered for quick results
  • Great for non-artists

Cons:

  • Limited customization
  • Results may not always be perfect

2. Storyboarder (Free)

Best for: Beginners and hobbyists
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

If you’re just starting out with storyboarding or need a free, open-source tool, Storyboarder is a great option. It’s simple to use and perfect for quick sketches. You can create and organize storyboards, and the software also supports exporting to various formats for easy integration into other video editing tools.

My Experience: I used Storyboarder for a short film project, and its simplicity was a huge help. The ability to easily sketch and adjust scenes without the complexity of professional tools was exactly what I needed.

Pros:

  • Open-source and completely free
  • Easy to learn
  • Integrates well with Photoshop for detailed edits

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features
  • No built-in asset library

3. Toon Boom Storyboard Pro (Paid)

Best for: Professionals and animation studios
Price: Starts at $60/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac

For professionals in animation or film production, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro is a powerful and comprehensive tool. It offers detailed drawing tools, camera movement control, and the ability to create animatics. It also supports 3D camera integration, which is useful for creating more dynamic and realistic scenes.

My Experience: I’ve used Toon Boom for various animation projects, and its ability to simulate camera movements made it indispensable for visualizing complex scenes.

Pros:

  • Ideal for high-level animation and film production
  • Advanced features like 3D camera integration
  • Good collaboration tools

Cons:

  • Expensive, especially for beginners
  • Has a steeper learning curve

4. Boords (Paid)

Best for: Collaboration and team projects
Price: Starts at $25/month
Platforms: Web-based

Boords is an excellent choice for teams working on storyboards together. It allows for real-time collaboration and feedback, making it easy to share and edit storyboards. Boords also offers powerful tools for animatics and a simple interface that makes the process smooth and quick.

My Experience: I used Boords for a group project, and the real-time collaboration was a game-changer. It kept everyone on the same page, and changes were instantly visible to the whole team.

Pros:

  • Great for team collaboration
  • Simple, intuitive interface
  • Cloud-based, accessible from anywhere

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features for individual users
  • Requires an internet connection

5. FrameForge Studio (Paid)

Best for: Filmmakers needing pre-visualization
Price: Starts at $249
Platforms: Windows, Mac

FrameForge Studio is designed for filmmakers and directors who need to pre-visualize scenes in 3D. It offers a robust set of tools to plan shots, camera angles, and lighting. This software is perfect for creating highly detailed storyboards and even simulating camera movements and blocking.

My Experience: FrameForge was invaluable when planning a complex scene for a short film. The 3D pre-visualization feature allowed me to experiment with different angles and setups before shooting.

Pros:

  • Powerful 3D scene creation
  • Ideal for detailed pre-visualization
  • Extensive library of props and characters

Cons:

  • Expensive for casual users
  • Requires a learning curve to fully master

6. ShotPro (Paid)

Best for: Directors and cinematographers
Price: Starts at $149
Platforms: iOS, Mac, Windows

ShotPro is a great tool for filmmakers who need to visualize scenes in 3D. It allows users to set up virtual sets, props, and characters, making it ideal for directors and cinematographers. It’s a bit more affordable than some of the other high-end tools but still offers a lot of features for film production.

My Experience: Using ShotPro, I was able to map out camera movements and actor positions in 3D, which helped a lot during the planning stages of my film.

Pros:

  • 3D scene setup and camera movements
  • Affordable for the features it offers
  • Easy to use for filmmakers

Cons:

  • Lacks some advanced drawing tools
  • Limited to certain platforms

7. Celtx (Paid)

Best for: Writers and storyboard creators
Price: Starts at $15/month
Platforms: Web-based

Celtx is a well-known pre-production tool that offers a suite of features, including storyboarding. It is particularly popular among writers and filmmakers looking to organize their projects in one place. The storyboarding tool allows for easy drag-and-drop functionality, making it ideal for quick storyboards.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive toolset for pre-production
  • Affordable pricing plans
  • Cloud-based collaboration

Cons:

  • Basic storyboarding features compared to others
  • Limited export options

8. Storyboard That (Free and Paid)

Best for: Educators and beginners
Price: Free (Paid version available)
Platforms: Web-based

Storyboard That is an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop storyboarding tool ideal for beginners, educators, and students. Its simple interface allows users to create basic storyboards quickly, and it offers a variety of characters, scenes, and props to help you build your project.

My Experience: I used Storyboard That for an educational project, and it was incredibly easy to pick up. I was able to quickly create a storyboard and share it with my classmates.

Pros:

  • Free version available
  • Great for education and simple projects
  • Intuitive interface

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced features for professional use
  • Limited customization options

9. Adobe Animate (Paid)

Best for: Animators and illustrators
Price: Starts at $20.99/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac

Adobe Animate is a robust animation tool that also offers storyboarding features. It’s a powerful option for animators who want to create more detailed and dynamic storyboards, as it integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud tools like Photoshop and After Effects.

Pros:

  • Excellent for animators
  • Seamless integration with other Adobe tools
  • Advanced animation features

Cons:

  • Can be expensive with the Adobe subscription
  • Requires familiarity with Adobe software

10. Canva (Free and Paid)

Best for: Quick, simple storyboards
Price: Free (Paid version available)
Platforms: Web-based

Canva is a versatile design tool that’s also suitable for creating simple storyboards. It offers a user-friendly interface, which makes it a great choice for beginners who need to create quick, simple visuals for their projects.

Pros:

  • Free version available
  • Easy to use with lots of templates
  • Great for basic projects

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced storyboarding tools
  • Limited customization for storyboarding purposes

11. Trello (Free and Paid)

Best for: Project management and collaboration
Price: Free (Paid version available)
Platforms: Web-based

Trello is primarily a project management tool, but it can be creatively used for storyboarding as well. By using its card-based layout, you can plan out scenes and ideas visually, making it an unconventional but effective option for managing your storyboarding process.

Pros:

  • Excellent for organizing tasks and ideas
  • Great for team collaboration
  • Free version available

Cons:

  • Not specifically designed for storyboarding
  • Limited visual features

Conclusion

Whether you’re a beginner looking for something simple or a professional in need of advanced features, there’s a storyboarding software for every budget and need. Tools like Storyboard AI Generator Free and Storyboarder are perfect for those on a tight budget, while tools like Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and FrameForge Studio are ideal for more complex projects.

Each of these tools has its unique strengths, so consider what features are most important to you—whether it’s collaboration, ease of use, or advanced animation capabilities.

If you’re just starting, you can explore Storyboard AI Generator Free at story-boards.ai to get an idea of how storyboarding works without investing in expensive software. Whichever tool you choose, the right storyboarding software will make your creative process smoother and more organized.